Sunil Yadav, a notorious drug smuggler from Punjab, was fatally shot in a confrontation on December 23, having been wanted in several cases in Rajasthan. Yadav was infamous for trafficking narcotics into India through the Pakistan route and had previously been associated with a drug haul valued at Rs 300 crore. The responsibility for his death was claimed by gangster Rohit Godara, affiliated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, who accused Yadav of colluding with the Punjab police to orchestrate the killing of their associate, Ankit Bhadu. Godara stated, “We have avenged him,” noting that Yadav had fled the country after his connection to Bhadu’s death came to light, and was reportedly sharing information about the gang while in the United States.
The gang further alleged in a Facebook post that Yadav and his associates were responsible for fostering drug addiction among the youth in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, while colluding with law enforcement. Originally hailing from Abohar in Punjab’s Fazilka district, Yadav had previously been linked to the Bishnoi gang, but their alliance deteriorated following Bhadu’s murder. Prior to his escape to the US using a fake passport under the name Rahul, Yadav had resided in Dubai, where Rajasthan police collaborated with international agencies to secure his arrest. He was also implicated in the murder of jeweler Pankaj Soni in Ganganagar district, Rajasthan, but had been released on bail.
